DARWIN (Australia) 22 September 2025 – The final round of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship got underway Saturday and Sunday at the stunning Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex in Darwin, with an opening race that kept the title fight alive until the last checkered flag of the season. Under hot and slightly humid conditions, the track was praised by the riders for being both technical and fun to ride, setting the perfect stage for one of the most exciting showdowns of the season in front of the amazing Australian fans.
In the end the young star Lotte van Drunen from De Baets MX-Yamaha Team kept all the composure she needed to be crowned World Champion for a second year in a row! Her journey has been the ones of champions with an impressive regularity that put her on prime position to lift the trophy at the end of the season and fend off her close rivals, MX Fonta Racing’s Kiara Fontanesi and RFME Spain National Team's Daniela Guillén.
Main Photo: Lotte van Drunen
Top Photo: (left to right) FIM President Jorge Viegas, Motorcycling Australia CEO Peter Doyle, Lotte van Drunen, Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo, FIM/CMS Director Antonio Alia Portela
In race 1, Kiara Fontanesi, from the very first corner, made her intentions clear to fight the 16 points gap with leader Lotte van Drunen,. The Italian rider grabbed the holeshot and controlled the pace from the front, never looking back as she stormed to an emphatic victory, her fourth race win of the season.
Behind her, Daniela Guillén, 17 points off the leader, did everything she could to keep her championship chances alive too. After a strong start, the Spaniard engaged in battles with local stars Charli Cannon and Taylah McCutcheon, eventually emerging in second place. Even a collision with Cannon after the Australian folded the front couldn’t stop Guillén’s charge, she remounted quickly and secured 22 vital points in second.
Championship leader van Drunen knew that the key was to ride smart. Starting outside the top five, she lost ground early when Guillén pushed past, but the Dutch rider kept calm under pressure. As mistakes unfolded ahead, Van Drunen steadily worked her way into third position, banking a safe third place that kept her firmly in control of the championship heading into the last and decisive race.
Just behind the title contenders, Amandine Verstappen rode consistently to claim fourth place, while SYE Racing Team 423’s Larissa Papenmeier completed the top five after passing McCutcheon late in the race. Cannon, after two falls, salvaged seventh place, with fellow Aussie Madi Simpson taking eighth.
With Fontanesi, Guillén and Van Drunen the championship gap was now down to 11 points in Van Drunen’s favour heading into the very last race of the year.
The final race of the 2025 FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship capped off a spectacular season at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway, where fans witnessed a thrilling conclusion under the Northern Territory sun.
As the gate dropped for the last time this year, van Drunen powered out of the middle of the grid and cut inside to grab the holeshot, holding off Kiara Fontanesi who tried to sweep around the outside. The Yamaha rider was quickly chased by Guillén, who slotted into second, with Fontanesi in third, local favourite Cannon in fourth, and Papenmeier in fifth.
Guillén began piling on the pressure immediately. On lap four she surged around the outside to momentarily edge past Van Drunen, who responded instantly with a sharper line back into the lead. A lap later, however, Guillén’s persistence paid off as she made the move stick. Fontanesi soon followed, overtaking Van Drunen to move into second position, a result that would elevate her to runner-up in the championship standings.
Guillén pushed ahead to secure her fourth race win of the season, while Fontanesi maintained second and Cannon impressed with third on home soil. Papenmeier completed the top five, while Van Drunen crossed the line in fourth, doing exactly what she needed to secure the title.
Riding with maturity beyond her years, the 18-year-old Dutch star showed measured control, resisting unnecessary risks and focusing on the bigger picture. That approach delivered her second consecutive FIM WMX World Championship, sealed with a seven-point margin over Fontanesi, with Guillén confirming third overall.
Lotte Van Drunen: “Yeah, this is incredible. I know some people thought the championship was over after the news of my injury, and that I wasn’t going to make it, but I did. I’m only 18 years old and already a two-time World Champion.. it’s unbelievable! I can’t thank the people around me enough: my team, all my sponsors, my friends and family, and especially my dad, who is just incredible. Also my trainer, who I know is watching from home, he’s probably going to be bald very soon after all the stress! Thank you to everyone for the support. I’m going to enjoy this moment.”
Top Photo: WMX Start Darwin
Bottom Photos: 1. Daniela Guillen; 2. Kiara Fontanesi
WMX - Race 1 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GASGAS), 24:22.743; 2. Daniela Guillen (ESP, GASGAS), +0:14.035; 3. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, Yamaha), +0:29.576; 4. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Yamaha), +0:34.523; 5. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Honda), +0:35.438; 6. Taylah McCutcheon (AUS, Kawasaki), +0:43.992; 7. Charli Cannon (AUS, Honda), +0:54.777; 8. Madi Simpson (AUS, Yamaha), +1:44.252; 9. Madison Healey (AUS, KTM), +1:52.306; 10. Nellie Fransson (SWE, Yamaha), +1:58.270
WMX – Race 2 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Daniela Guillen (ESP, GASGAS), 25:09.989; 2. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GASGAS), +0:05.067; 3. Charli Cannon (AUS, Honda), +0:07.912; 4. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, Yamaha), +0:26.614; 5. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Honda), +1:00.810; 6. Taylor Thompson (AUS, KTM), +1:41.742; 7. Leah Rimbas (AUS, KTM), +1:44.627; 8. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Yamaha), +1:47.546; 9. Madi Simpson (AUS, Yamaha), +2:02.017; 10. Alexandra Massury (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s)
WMX Overall - Top 10 Classification: 1. Daniela Guillen (ESP, GAS), 47 points; 2. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GAS), 47 p.; 3. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, YAM), 38 p.; 4. Charli Cannon (AUS, HON), 34 p.; 5. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, HON), 32 p.; 6. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, YAM), 31 p.; 7. Madi Simpson (AUS, YAM), 25 p.; 8. Leah Rimbas (AUS, KTM), 22 p.; 9. Madison Healey (AUS, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Taylor Thompson (AUS, KTM), 20 p
WMX World Championship - Top 10 Classification: 1. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, YAM), 256 points; 2. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GAS), 249 p.; 3. Daniela Guillen (ESP, GAS), 248 p.; 4. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, HON), 169 p.; 5. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, YAM), 167 p.; 6. Shana van der Vlist (NED, YAM), 147 p.; 7. Martine Hughes (NOR, KAW), 133 p.; 8. Danee Gelissen (NED, YAM), 129 p.; 9. Lynn Valk (NED, KTM), 118 p.; 10. April Franzoni (FRA, HON), 106 p.
WMX Manufacturers - Top 10 Classification: 1. GASGAS, 278 points; 2. Yamaha, 258 p.; 3. KTM, 208 p.; 4. Honda, 178 p.; 5. Kawasaki, 149 p.; 6. Fantic, 63 p.; 7. Triumph, 47 p.; 8. Husqvarna, 4 p.;
Photo: WMX Podium Australia
With back-to-back crowns, Lotte van Drunen cements her place as one of the leading figures in women’s motocross, flying the flag for the De Baets Yamaha MX-Team. Fontanesi’s consistency earned her the silver medal in the standings after one of her best season with three overall wins, while Guillén’s victory was a strong finish to secure the bronze.
The WMX class signed off its 2025 campaign in fitting fashion: on one of the most spectacular circuits of the year, in front of passionate fans and with three world-class riders all leaving their mark on a memorable championship season.
All the photos from the MXGP of Australia presented by Sitzler will be available HERE.
You can find the complete results HERE.
MXGP OF AUSTRALIA PRESENTED BY SITZLER QUICK FACTS:
Circuit length: 1540m
Type of ground: Red Sand
Temperature: 34°
Weather conditions: Sunny
Crowd Attendance: 36,391
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